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Today’s Gospel (August 27, 2010 -Friday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time) is a parable familiar to many, the Parable of the Ten Virgins. All ten came when they heard the bridegroom was coming. Five were well prepared and five were…
Read MoreI sit here thinking about what my ministry is really meant to be about. Of course, the obvious answer is Jesus. But that isn’t what I am trying to get at. I work on lots of things like RCIA, baptismal…
Read MoreThis has been one of those weeks that I have been busy with the same things as of late, the parish website (www.ourladyofthelakescc.org), working on some written materials to use for RCIA, CMA (our annual diocesan appeal that will begin in…
Read MoreAt Our Lady of the Lakes we are going to have our first meeting on stewardship in the parish this Tuesday (8/17/2010), which raises the question what is stewardship? Stewardship is a word that is becoming more commonly used in…
Read MoreWell, I have been at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Community for five weeks now. I continue to become involved in more things as each week passes. This was probably my busiest week so far. Fr. Bob was away…
Read MoreI have finally finished the articles on baptism and original sin. The web addresses are Baptism- https://www.renewaloffaith.org/ls/baptism.htm Original Sin – https://www.renewaloffaith.org/basics/originalsin.htm Peace, Fr. Jeff
Read MoreWe are at the peak of our summer season. Today the forecast for here is a high of 88 degrees and hot, hazy, and humid. With summertime, many people are taking vacations. I took some vacation time at the end…
Read MoreWell, I have being at my new parish assignment for just over two weeks now. The physical moving and unpacking is completely done. Of the five churches, I have celebrated Sunday Masses at St. Januarius in Naples and St. Patrick’s in…
Read MoreAs I was reflecting on the readings for this coming Sunday this morning, I read something that caught my eye. The second reading comes from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians. From seminary, I always remembered that the only…
Read MoreThis weekend we celebrate our nation’s independence. On July 4, 1776, the colonists signed the Declaration of Independence. The colonists had fought for representation so that their voices could be heard. They declared their independence and fought the Revolutionary War…
Read MoreI arrived Tuesday afternoon (June 29th) at St. Michael’s Rectory to begin my new assignment at Our Lady of the Lakes. It has only been two days so it has been quiet so far with activities focusing on unpacking and…
Read MoreIn today’s Gospel (Wednesday, June 23, 2010), Jesus tells us to be careful of false prophets. Whenever we encounter a new person we might wonder ‘Can I trust this person?’ We know nothing about them. Can we trust them to…
Read MoreThe gospel reading for tomorrow (Thursday, 6/17/10) is Matthew’s telling of Jesus teaching his disciples the prayer we have come to call The Our Father or The Lord’s Prayer. We say the words of The Lord’s Prayer often. We say…
Read MoreThe gospel reading for today is Jesus’ teaching on the familiar passage “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:23-24). People often use this passage from Exodus to justify punishment, especially the death penalty. John J. McDermoot in “Weekday…
Read MoreI maintain this blog to help educate people about our Catholic faith. My desire is to always have constructive and polite dialogue. I have been writing for this blog since late January 2010 and for over a year before that…
Read MoreThis week I was talking to a couple and they said they had read that an annulment is a “Catholic divorce.” This is not true. A divorce is a civil (government) process that ends a legal relationship. It views marriage…
Read MoreI attended the ordination in Rochester of nine men to the diaconate today; eight as permanent deacons and one as a transitional diaconate. It is always a moving event. This year I knew three of the men. One from the…
Read MoreWith the celebration of Memorial Day a few days ago summer has “unofficially” begun. Summer vacations are beginning. Most colleges have already begun their summer vacations and the elementary and high schools will begin their vacations by the end of…
Read MoreToday we celebrate Memorial Day. It has taken on various meanings. For many it marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season. In New York State it is the time when people plant most of their gardens, assured that there…
Read MoreWhen did you receive your sacraments? Most of us in the United States were baptized as babies. We then receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and our First Eucharist around the age of reason (7). Then, the next sacrament we receive…
Read MoreSometimes there doesn’t seem to be a lot of love in the world. Sad considering that Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor. I believe we have an…
Read MoreOn June 30th of this year I will celebrate the third anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It has been a good three years and I truly enjoy serving as a priest. There have been difficult moments both professionally…
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